Lessons from a Sinulog Idol champ

CEBU, Philippines – Almost two weeks after being hailed as Sinulog Idol 2015 champ, Kristina Cassandra ‘KC’ W. Dilao said it still hasn’t quite sunk in that the trophy landed on her hands.

Calling her win unexpected, the 19-year-old cited her inexperience with amateur singing contests and being in the company of 11 fierce Sinulog Idol Season 6 competitors.

A Talisay resident and a college junior taking up English Language at Cebu Normal University, Dilao is an only child of parents who are both singers. In fact, her mom Nanette interpreted two Cebu Popular Music Festival entries in the years 1996 and 2005.

“I wanted to share my talent and prove to my parents that I’m not the kind of daughter who doesn’t trust herself,” Dilao said on why she joined the annual singing tilt held at the Fuente Osmeña as one of many prelude events before the Sinulog Festival weekend.

“My parents really motivated me to sing. I’ve always looked up to them. I often told myself, ‘Someday, I’m gonna sing on stage and make them proud.’ Aside from that, I wanted to learn and enjoy the camaraderie with the coaches and my co-finalists.”

Dilao started singing at the age of three, and she remembers her favorite show-stopping piece was Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Her first contest was Little Big Star Cebu at 10 years old. “I got sick that time so I guess it wasn’t meant for me,” she said.

She’s partial to the pop, rock and ballad genres, and would love to perfect Broadway tunes. Lea Salonga would top her list of idols, describing the Miss Saigon star as “an exceptional artist and an inspiration to never be afraid of dreaming high.”

Her Sinulog Idol song choices, she shared, were selected not only to showcase her range, but also for their underlying message.

“I sang ‘Hero’ by Mariah Carey for the pre-grand finals because I love the message of the song which I can really relate with. We shouldn’t be afraid of what lies ahead and in reaching our dreams because God, for sure, who is our hero will always be there for us. For the grand finals, I sang ‘Somewhere’ because it’s one of my mom’s favorites. I also love the message that we should never lose hope because somehow, someday, somewhere, everything will be alright in God’s perfect time.”

Dilao prepped herself for the nightly showdowns by studying her songs and watching YouTube videos to gather ideas on stage performance.

Her most unforgettable Sinulog Idol moment? “When I bagged the Star of the Night award for the Upbeat Night. It was really unexpected because my shoes got damaged. Good thing I was able to survive and it was worth it in the end.”

The challenge with Sinulog Idol, Dilao mused, was choosing which songs would best suit her. It was also a juggling act to balance school and contest duties. One elimination night even left her sobbing because she lost her voice.

Like many Sinulog Idol finalists before her have harped about, the awaited Cebu talent competition trains them not only on vocal aesthetics, but also on personality development and industry professionalism – lessons that Dilao will strive hard to live by beyond Sinulog Idol.

“We’re taught to be humble, focus on our goals, believe in our capabilities, and free our minds from negative thoughts. We are not only taught how to become better performers, but how to be better versions of ourselves,” said Dilao, who lists dancing, painting, and writing stories and poems among her other interests.

She added, “Winning Sinulog Idol taught me one great lesson in life: to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also achieve.”

The budding singer said she misses the workshops and the bonding with her co-finalists.

“Practice and never stop singing,” Dilao said on what she’d tell an aspiring singer like her. “Dream high, work hard, stay focused and surround yourself with good people.”